Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Ruthanne brought her Wild Thing quilt to share on Saturday. It is made with the fun and funky Polka Dot Garden fabric collection, and is one of two that Ruthanne made in a week…the other just needs borders! Pattern is Wild Thing by Villa Rosa Designs.

Page shared her first hand applique project and it is a beauty! The photo doesn’t really do it justice…the background is a yummy periwinkle blue and the strings and appliques are muted brights from a Moda collection whose name escapes me (I think it was a Basic Grey line)! Pattern is How Does Your Garden Grow? from Silver Thimble Quilt Co. Page is officially hooked on hand applique after this project!

Miss Bea (on the right) went with us on our bus trip to Paducah last year and participated in the black/tan nine patch block swap that we did on the bus. This is her finished “Paducah Memories” nine-patch…beautiful! Reminds me that I need to get my swap blocks out and do something with them, too!

Thanks for sharing with us, ladies!

Melisa

Thursday was our day at the AQS Quilt Show and the opportunity to shop at every single vendor booth…400 in all!  I think we hit every single one, too!

We were treated to a different view of Paducah on the way in because Johnny’s GPS sent him along the truck route into town.  This was a construction site we passed, which someone cleverly dubbed the “Paducah Pyramids!”

Pat and I posed for a picture on the way into the show…

Here’s a view of the dome pavilion added by AQS this year to replace the vendor/exhibit space formerly housed in the Executive Inn, which has been closed. This was an amazing structure, 37,000 square feet with special revolving doors to keep the air inside. You really couldn’t tell you weren’t in a traditional building unless you walked along the outside edge of the structure next to the wall.

These were the restroom facilities outside the pavilion…not your average port-a-potty! Air conditioning, running water, pictures on the walls and CLEAN!!!

Although I took loads of pictures of the show quilts, I can’t share them here on the blog due to permission requirements. The winners are posted on the AQS website. Suffice it to say, the quilts were amazing, making me very aware of just how inadequate my quilting skills are!

Elly takes a load off … oh my aching feet!!!

Waiting for our luxury coach to whisk us away to dinner…the end of a VERY long day…but we’re all still smiling!

Stay tuned…more to come!

Melisa

There is so much to share about our trip to Paducah it is difficult to know where to begin. We had sooooo much fun, and with the exception of the threatening weather on our way home, everything was smooth as silk! I will admit to taking three naps on Sunday…I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I finally got home!

There were a couple of stand outs on the trip, the first of which was our driver, Johnny.

This man was a godsend! He was so kind to all of us, and took care of so many details that Pat and I didn’t even have to think about. Every single person on the bus just adored him, and we’ve already told him that he MUST be our driver next year, too! We kept him thoroughly entertained, and he was amazed at the antics this group got up to…I teased him about sharing all of our secrets with his wife when he got home and he said “she’ll swear I’m lyin’!”

The second standout hit of the trip were our “Paducah Pockets”, remember these?

We had so many compliments on these bags, and lots of the girls told us they were stopped numerous times by people who wanted to inspect their bags and take pictures. It was great being able to spot our folks as we walked around because you couldn’t help but notice their bags! Pat is writing the pattern and will have it available on her website soon – I’ll be sure to let you know when it is available.  Not sure yet what we’ll do to top this for 2011…at least we’ve got a year to come up with something equally as clever!

We left Conyers bright and early Wednesday morning, and everyone was smiling and anxious to get on the road! This was the BEST group of women we could have ever asked for on this trip! I feel as though I have 47 new BFFs!!!

First stop was Hancock’s of Paducah! The place was hopping when we got there, and I think a number of ladies seriously helped the Paducah economy before we left there, Pat included! Fifteen minutes through the door, and she was lined up at the cutting table!

Dinner at Rafferty’s (notice they’re all STILL smiling!) and then we were off to Kentucky Oaks Mall to visit the vendors and see the quilt exhibits.

Some folks finished shopping before the others, and took the opportunity to relax a little. By this time, many of us were at the end of a 15 hour day…but everyone was still smiling!

Back to the hotel where we all crashed immediately! Even I didn’t have trouble going to sleep that night! Tomorrow is another big day – the Quilt Show!

Melisa

Two more sleeps and we’re off to Paducah…I’m not sure who is more excited about this trip!!!

Pat and I finished up the name badges and the goodie bags today, plus got everything else in order. All I have to do now is load everything into my car tomorrow afternoon to take it over to the bus stop on Wednesday morning at o’dark thirty! Here’s a sneak peek at the goodies …

All the name bags lined up in a row…aren’t they cute!!! And a little close up of mine, plus the fabric covered notebooks Pat did for everyone. I added a Sweet Home pen to complete the set. A couple of things I learned from this experience 1) I don’t want to see selvedges again  for a very long time!, and 2) I don’t like sewing with vinyl. But even with that, these bags turned out so well – there is a pocket on the back, and each one is lined with a different bright, funky fabric and has a little button tab closure, and the name pocket is vinyl. Can’t wait to wear these! This will be perfect to wear at Quilt Market, too, so mine will do double-duty!

Goodie Bags all piled up. Everyone gets one, and there are some fantastic goodies in here! Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the goodies, but trust me, you would want one! Heck, I want one!

Tomorrow is my ‘deep breath’ day. I have to pick up my dry cleaning, get a pedicure, make a few little snacks and pack my suitcase…and THEN I’ll be ready!

Melisa

until the bus pulls out! Paducah here we come! I am really looking forward to the trip. I’m anxious to meet many of the quilters who are going with us…I’ve gotten to know a lot of them through phone calls and emails…and will be happy to put a face with a name!

Pat and I have been working really hard to make this a memorable trip for everyone. We’ve got lots of fun and games planned (Strip Poker anyone?) and some fun surprises, on top of all the fun to be had at the quilt show once we get there!

I’ve had a staging area set up in my office at the shop for several weeks in an effort to keep everything together so I wouldn’t forget to take something important (I have a similar area at home, too, ‘cause I’m just weird that way!). This is part of it…look at all that stuff!

Many of the fabric manufacturers and distributors have been very generous in providing goodies for our bus trip, and I’ve been adding in little fun things all along. Of course, there will be “work” involved to win these prizes – we’ll make it interesting and lively! Fun will be had by all, I can assure you!

I have a full day planned today to finish up last minute details for the trip, and get things in order at the shop in preparation for being gone a week! I know Mike and the rest of the crew will be happy to see me get on that bus…so they can relax a little! HA! I’m leaving a “To Do” list a mile long for them…can’t let them get too comfortable while I’m gone!

Pat and I have one final work session tomorrow to get everything in order and then Tuesday is a “ME Day!” I plan to get a pedicure (finally!) and run some errands, and relax a little before taking off…don’t want to be exhausted before we even leave!

I wish every single one of you could go with us! Start making your plans now for next year!

Melisa